Wash. Construction Law Case

Washington Supreme Court overturns "completion and acceptance" doctrine, according to Robert Boggs at the Washington Trial Law blog (Jan. 20). The doctrine says that a contractor won't be liable to third parties for negligence once the job is completed and the owners have accepted it. Now the court adopts Restatement (2d) of Torts sec. 385, which imposes liability based on foreseeability.

The case is Davis v. Baugh Industrial Contractors, Inc. (Jan. 18, 2007), Washington courts links: majority (Chambers, J.), dissent (J. Johnson, J.).